Tack holder and setting tool



y 1966 J. J. F. MARCH 3,250,308

TACK HOLDER AND SETTING TOOL Filed July 13, 1964 VENTOR.

Jose h JMavdn 3,250,308 TACK HOLDER AND SETTING TOOL Joseph J. F. March,82 Windsor St., Waterbury, Conn.

Filed July 13, 1964, Ser. No. 382,216 3 Claims. (Cl. 145-46) Thisinvention relates to tack packages, and more particularly to dispenserand applicator type packages or holders for tacks and like articles.

One object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved packageof tacks which is especially low in cost, comprising aneconomical-to-fabricate holder structure which may be easily and quicklyloaded or filled with tacks or similar articles.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved tack packageas above set forth, which serves the multiple purpose of holding orstoring the tacks as a.

merchandise packet, dispensing the tacks one by one, and constituting anapplicator to facilitate both the placement and setting of the tacks.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of an improved tackpackage as characterized, which is convenient to use, and which keepsthe tacks in an orderly placement or arrangement at all times prior totheir being put into use, even when the holder is being utilized toapply a tack to a supporting surface.

Yet another feature of the invention resides in the small size andcompactness of the package of tacks as provided by the invention.

Other features and advantages reside in the simplicity of the package oftacks, and the ability to enable a onehand application of the tacks tobe eifected, as well as the elimination of broken finger nails and sorefingers which heretofore attended the use of thumb tacks.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings accompanying this specification, similar characters ofreference are used to designate like components throughout the severalviews, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the improved package of tacks as providedby the invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken on the line 2-2 of FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the package of tacks, and

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic representation illustrating the method of usingthe tack package as an applicator, for the purpose of easily setting athumb tack to a supporting surface.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic representation illustrating the method of usingthe tack package as a dispenser and placement device, prior to theactual setting of the tack pictured in FIG. 4.

As shown, the improved package of tacks, which constitutes a new articleof merchandise, comprises essentially in combination an elongateresilient tubular holder and applicator structure which is designatedgenerally by the numeral 10, said structure being formed of any suitablematerial whereby it has resilience and at least a moderate amount ofstrength and rigidity. The tubular structure may, for instance, befabricated of sheet metal strip which is rolled into a tube, or else itmay be fabricated of plastic substance such as polyethylene,polypropylene or other suitable plastic formulation.

Regardless of the type of material of which it is made, the tubularstructure 10 is so constituted as to have an elongate, narrow slit 12extending lengthwise and preferably disposed longitudinally so as to beparallel with the axis of the structure. The tubular structure 10 alsohas a bias which tends to force together the edges of the slit 12,tending to eifect a closing of the same.

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In accordance with the invention, the novel holder and applicatorstructure 10 is filled with a row of tacks 14, arranged with portions ofthe heads thereof in overlapping relation, the tacks being disposed in aregular formation as clearly indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Such formationarranges the tacks so that the shank 16 extends into the tubularstructure 10 between the opposite edges of the slit 12 in an obliquedirection with respect to the axis of the structure. Portions of theheads 18 of the tacks are thus disposed in such a manner that they mayreadily overlap each other, as clearly seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, therebyelfecting an extremely compact and yet, simple, easily handleddisposition of a quantity of tacks.

Due to the bias of the tubular structure 10, the opposite edges of theslit 12 frictionally seize and grip the shanks 16 of the tacks,retaining the latter in their given arrangement on the holder. Where thematerial, of which the tubular structure 10 is constituted, is of ayieldable nature, the force of the gripping action is such that smallindentations will be formed in the opposite edges of the slit 12 at theplaces where the shanks 16 are disposed. By the use of a slightlyyielding substance such as resilient and yielda'ble plastic, theformation of such indentations results in each and every one of theshanks 16 of the tacks being frictionally gripped as a consequence ofthe continual force exerted along the entire length of the tubularstructure 10, and this is an important feature of the invention.

The tubular structure 10 may be made in any desired length to hold therequired number of tacks. If made of sheet metal it may be fabricated bywell known forming tools and procedures, the same being true if made ofplastic substance. An extrustion process is especially suitable, whenforming the structure 10 of plastic, as will be readily understood.

In accordance with the invention, the ends of the structure 10 are cutobliquely, whereby there is provided an end portion 20 (hereinaftertermed a hollow bottom Wall portion) especially suited for use as anapplicator, as illustrated in FIG. 4, and a slit end portion 21(hereinafter termed a hollow top wall portion) especially suited as adispensing and placement means, as in FIG. 5. The end or hollow bottomwall portion 20, located obliquely opposite the slit 12, projectsaxially beyond the remainder of the tubular structure to constitute apress-down tool or face for forcing tacks into a supporting surface,indicated at 22 in FIG. 4. Prior to this operation, the tacks aredispensed and temporarily placed in a simple manner by sliding them tothe end or hollow top wall portion 21 and setting the points with directfinger pressure, as seen in FIG. 5. Where the tubular structure is madeby a continuous extrusion process, the oblique cutting of the extrudedtubing will automatically form the two obliquely cut ends of thestructure as will be appreciated.

The tubular structure 10 may be easily and quickly loaded by suitableautomatic tack handling equipment, to provide the overlappingarrangement of tacks in a straight row as clearly shown inFIGS. l and 2.It will be understood that the end tacks of the row may be readilyremoved for use by merely applying the required finger pressure to thetack heads, as for example the head 18 of the rightmost tack in FIGS. 1and 2. p

It will now be understood from the foregoing that there has beenprovided by the invention an extremely simple, low cost package of tacksconstituting a new article of merchandise, which is effective in holdingthe tacks in place and in enabling the same to be easily dispensed andput into use. The cost of the holder itself and the assembly of thetacks to the same represents a negligible cost, whereby the holder mayconstitute a throw-away item after all of the tacks have been placedinto use. The

3 operation of removing and applying the tacks is facilitated by theholder, and there is eliminated the likelihood of broken finger nails,bruised fingers, etc. Variations and modifications may be made withinthe scope of the claims, and portions of the improvement may be usedwithout others.

I claim: 1. A new article of merchandise comprising, in combination:

(a) an elongate resilient tubular holder and applicator structure havinga generally straight bore and an elongate narrow slit extendinglengthwise along said bore and completely through one end of the holder,which constitutes the discharge end thereof,

(b) a plurality of tacks disposed in a row along said structure andcarried thereby with their heads outside the structure, said tackshaving shanks extending through the said slit and frictionally grippedby the edges thereof to releasably retain the tacks on the structure,

(0) the other end of the tubular structure having an edge disposed at anacute angle with respect to the lengthwise dimension of the holder, andincluding a hollow bottom wall portion constituting a partialcontinuation of the tubular structure and which is located obliquelyopposite the said slit, said bottom Wall portion projecting axiallybeyond the remainder of the structure to constitute a hollow press-downtool for receiving tack heads partially in the bore of the tubularstructure and for forcing tacks into final position in a supportingsurface,

(d) said tubular structure having at said one end a slitted top wallportion which constitutes a partial continuation of the tubularstructure and which projects axially beyond the remainder of thestructure and constitutes a dispenser and placement device fortemporarily setting tacks in place and in initial position on asupporting surface by direct finger pressure,

(e) said one end having an edge which is also disposed at an acute anglewith respect to the lengthwise dimension of the holder and which effectsthe said axial projection of the slitted top wall portion, said angleddisposition of the edge of said one end resulting in a clearance bywhich said slitted top wall portion may be brought close to a surface towhich a tack is to be applied.

2. The new article as defined in claim 1, wherein:

(a) the applicator structure is constituted of yieldable plasticsubstance,

(b) the edges of the slit at the shanks of the tacks being slightlyindented due to the bias of the structure in a direction tending toclose the slit, thereby to minimize undesired slippage of the tacks fromthe holder.

3. The new article as defined in claim 1, wherein:

(a) the holder and applicator structure comprises a cylindrical tube.having a diameter roughly equal to the diameter of the heads of thetacks.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,369,420 2/ 192lGillespie 227--63 3,064,457 .1 1 1962 Vanden Boom et a1.

FOREIGN PATENTS 18,427 1889 Great Britain. 290,135 11/1931 Italy.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

R. V. PARKER, JR., Assistant Examiner.

1. A NEW ARTICLE OF MERCHANDISE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: (A) ANELONGATED RESILIENT TUBULAR HOLDER AND APPLICATOR STRUCTURE HAVING AGENERALLY STRAIGHT BORE AND AN ELONGATE NARROW SLIT EXTENDING LENGTHWISWALONG SAID BORE AND COMPLETELY THROUGH ONE END OF THE HOLDER, WHICHCONSTITUTES THE DISCHARGE END THEREOF, (B) A PLURALITY OF TRACKSDISPOSED IN A ROW ALONG SAID STRUCTURE AND CARRIED THEREBY WITH THEIRHEADS OUTSIDE THE STRUCTURE, SAID TRACKS HAVING SHANKS EXTENDING THROUGHTHE SAID SLIT AND FRICTIONALLY GRIPPED BY THE EDGES THEREOF TORELEASABLY RETAIN THE TRACKS ON THE STRUCTURE, (C) THE OTHER END OF THETUBULAR STRUCTURE HAVING AN EDGE DISPOSED AT AN ACUTE ANGLE WITH RESPECTTO THE LENGTHWISE DIMENSION OF THE HOLDER, AND INCLUDING A HOLLOW BOTTOMWALL PORTION CONSTITUTING A PARTIAL CONTINUATION OF THE TUBULARSTRUCTURE AND WHICH IS LOCATED OBLIQUELY OPPOSITE THE SAID SLIT, SAIDBOTTOM WALL PORTION PROJECTING AXIALLY BEYOND THE REMAINDER OF THESTRUCTURE TO CONSTITUTE A HOLLOW PRESS-DOWN TOOL FOR RECEIVING TACKHEADS PARTIALLY IN THE BORE OF THE TUBULAR STRUCTURE AND FOR FORCINGTACKS INTO FINAL POSITION IN A SUPPORTING SURFACE, (D) SAID TUBULARSTRUCTURE HAVING AT SAID ONE END A SLITTED TOP WALL PORTION WHICHCONSTITUTES A PARTIAL CONTINUATION OF THE TUBULAR STRUCTURE AND WHICHPROJECTS AXIALLY BEYOND THE REMAINDER OF THE STRUCTURE AND CONSTITUTES ADISAPENSER AND PLACEMENT DEVICE FOR TEMPRARILY SETTING TRACKS IN PLACEAND IN INITIAL POSITION ON A SUPPORTING SURFACE BY DIRECT FINGERPRESSURE, (E) SAID ONE END HAVING AN EDGE WIHICH IS ALOS DISPOSED AT ANACUTE ANGLE WITH RESPECT TO THE LENGTHWISE DIMENSION OF THE HOLDER ANDAWHICH EFFECTS THE SAID AXIAL PROJECTION OF THE SLITTED TOP WALLPORTION, SAID ANGLED DISPOSITION OF THE EDGE OF SAID ONE END RESULTINGIN A CLEARANCE BY WHICH SAID LITTED TOP WALL PORTION MAY BE BROUHT CLOSETO A SURFACE TO WHICH A TACK IS TO BE APPLIED.